After a typically brutal 99* made England firm favourites to win the Manchester Test – weather depending – Jonny Bairstow hit out at those who had criticised him since his return to the England side post a career-threatening ankle injury.
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Bairstow returned to the England side in June after ten months away, owing to a horrific leg injury in October 2022.
Hitting back at the criticism he faced from the media since his return, particularly over his wicketkeeping skills, and specifically over a couple of missed chances, Bairstow told BBC Sport that some of the chatter has been “a bit out of order”.
“Look, I think that you’ve got to have a bit of perspective on it,” Bairstow said. “I’ve not played in 10 months and I have not kept properly in three years. There’s obviously been a lot of talk and things like that, some of which I think has been a bit out of order, to be honest. That’s part and parcel of people that have an opinion and have a say. If people had a conversation with you individually and found out a bit more about the injury or the ankle, and how everything’s going they may have a slightly different view and a different perspective on it.”
Bairstow revealed doctors had to install “nine pins, a six-inch plate and a wire” in his ankle, and was told he might have trouble walking, let alone returning to sport.
“Still now 10 months post operation from from that when you’re told that you might not walk properly again, never mind run again or play professional sport. I’m immensely proud of the determination I’ve showed and and commitment to get back.”
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Speaking to reporters at the end of day three, Bairstow faced a question around the infamous stumping off him by Alex Carey came up. Bairstow, though, refused to delve into it, saying he had “completely switched off from everything”.
“Whether it’s fair or not, it’s up to you guys to decide, because you guys are writing the different bits,” Bairstow said. “I’ve completely switched off from everything, I’ve just been told a few snippets.
“Keeping after not keeping [for a long period], it’s one of those things that takes a bit of time, [regardless] of the ankle. It would be like you guys taking a three-year sabbatical and then coming back and writing to the same level which you do, day-in day-out. I’m sure you wouldn’t necessarily find it easy.”
